Rory McIlroy birdies five of last six to win Arnold Palmer Invitational

The connection Rory McIlroy had with Arnold Palmer was strong even before he delivered a Sunday charge that would have made The King proud.

McIlroy first played the Arnold Palmer Invitational three years ago, and Palmer teared up at dinner when he asked McIlroy if there was anything he needed and received this reply: "Mr. Palmer, thanks to you, I have everything I could ever need in my life."

The nerves of youth, the experience that comes with age. It has seemingly always been important to have a mixture of both at the Masters.

Augusta National presents such a test when the year's first major championship arrives. Masters Tournament winners typically need a bit of seasoning, a certain course initiation before becoming comfortable around the venerable venue.

Sergio Garcia made the worst score at the 15th hole in the history of the Masters, taking an 8-over-par 13 on Thursday that included five balls in the water that fronts the green.

The defending Masters champion shot 81, mostly due to his misfortune at the hole that was the site of his heroics a year ago, an eagle 3 on the final day that helped him get into a sudden-death playoff that he won over Justin Rose.

Don’t expect to see Patrick Reed wearing his usual red shirt and black pants on Sunday at the Masters.

Reed told Golf Channel on Thursday that Nike issued a directive to its golfers to have them dressed in similar colors.

“They’re doing a new thing where all the players stay in the same kind of story line,” Reed said. “All the players will either be in dark blue or gray, grayish black today and yesterday and then all of us will be in the same color tomorrow and Saturday and Sunday.”

Reed, who signed with Nike in January, is expected to wear pink on Sunday when he will have a full day’s worth of exposure playing in the final pairing with Rory McIlroy. He will enter the final round as the leader through 54 holes, holding an excellent shot at claiming his first major.

There is no word on what color Tiger Woods will wear, though many expect him to be sporting his customary red on Sunday.

On the next Maury Show, Patrick Reed and his family get to the bottom of it in a no holds barred 6 year reunion show. Are his parents abusers or is Patrick just a spoiled, narcissistic bone head that can putt? Tune in and find out.

Patrick Reed will never be regarded among the signature athletes of his generation. He is built like a beer-league softball player, and he plays a game often conquered by men who likely had trouble making their high school football and basketball teams.

But Reed did something Sunday that the greatest of the great do on muscle memory. Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, Michael Jordan -- they forever used real or imagined slights to fuel their rage and dominate the very antagonists who slighted them in the first place. Reed joined their ranks at the Masters with some controlled fury of his own. The fans did not want him to win, and Rory McIlroy, four-time major winner, strongly suggested Reed would be feeling too much anxiety to win.

Woods failed to make a birdie in a round for just the 11th time as a pro and the first time since the final round of the tournament at Doral in 2014. A few weeks after that, Woods had the first of four back surgeries.

Woods failed to make a birdie in a round for just the 11th time as a pro and the first time since the final round of the tournament at Doral in 2014. A few weeks after that, Woods had the first of four back surgeries.

For the first time since 2001, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will be grouped together at the Players Championship and will be joined by Rickie Fowler at the PGA Tour's signature event this week.

In 2001, Woods famously made his long "better than most'' putt at the par-3 17th during the third round with Mickelson as witness. Woods went on to win the tournament just a few weeks before completing the "Tiger Slam'' with a victory at the Masters.

Staying on his yacht -- or "dinghy," as he kiddingly called it -- at a nearby harbor for this week's U.S. Open apparently has more advantages for Tiger Woods than the typical creature comforts that come with a 155-foot boat.

Woods noted the lengthy traffic delays in getting to Shinnecock Hills, something he won't have to be concerned about when the U.S. Open begins on Thursday.

Garrett Rank attempts to work golf into his schedule as he travels for his job to various cities throughout North America.

Being an NHL referee does not afford the opportunity often, with numerous trips to cold-weather cities in the winter months. Neither does lugging around his golf clubs in addition his hockey equipment.